UST strengthens Final Four bid via 74-62 win over Adamson

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers strengthened their bid for a Final Four slot after defeating the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 74-62, in the first Sunday game of the 70th UAAP men’s basketball tournament before a packed Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. MVP leading contender Jervy Cruz, who was celebrating his 21st birthday, had another monster performance after he scored 24 points, hauled down 18 rebounds, dished out two assists, and blocked two shots in limited action for his team. Wingman Dylan Ababou also contributed significant numbers for UST after he scored 11 points, hauled down eight rebounds plus an assist and a steal. Patrick Cabahug, Adamson's main man after the departure of 2006 MVP Ken Bono this year, had another dismal performance. He only scored a measly 12 points on 4-22 field-goal shooting. The Growling Tigers victory fortified the defending champion’s chances of entering the semifinal round of the UAAP tournament, which will begin in two weeks time. UST is currently in fourth spot with an 8-5 card while Adamson, already out in the Final Four hunt, further dropped to 1-12. The Falcons will have a chance to improve their record as they face the still winless UP Fighting Maroons on September 15. UST misfired in the first quarter of play as Adamson managed to make the game close with outstanding defense. The score was tied at 16-all at the end of the first quarter. The start of the second quarter saw Adamson leading by four points at 20-16 but this was quickly erased by the Growling Tigers after they unleashed a closing 16-4 run to take the half with a score of 32-24. The start of the third period saw Adamson making a brief run to cut UST’s lead to just four points at 32-28. However, the Growling Tigers again was able to widen the gap as they unleashed an 18 to 11 run to take an 11-point lead at the end of the third period with a score of 50-39 Adamson tried to make another run to start the fourth period after they cut UST’s lead to just seven points at 50-43. But after Cruz was put in the game again, the game’s complexity began to change as UST unleashed a crippling 16-4 run to take a commanding 19-point lead at 66-47, less than seven minutes left in the fourth and final period. With the game already out of reach, UST coach Pido Jarencio, who celebrated his 43rd birthday last Thursday, managed to field in seldom used players such as Francis Soriano, Rene Badua and Rhum Perry Scott to the delight of the UST crowd who were on hand for the game. Cruz led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding during the first half of play with 12 points, 12 rebounds and a block. Patrick Cabahug, meanwhile, led Adamson in scoring with 11 points. The Tigers was able to take the lead in the first half due to better shooting going 14 out 34 from the field compared to Adamson’s 9/38. UST also had more rebounds with 30 compared to Adamson’s 21. - GMANews.TV